Iran promised yesterday to help curb the raging violence in Iraq, saying it has been cracking down on Al Qaeda militants on its soil and agreeing on closer security cooperation with Iraq’s visiting Shi’ite prime minister. Ibrahim al-Jaafari, in the first visit by an Iraqi premier since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein, held talks with outgoing President Mohammad Khatami of Iran on solidifying ties between the US-allied government in Baghdad and predominantly Shi’ite Iran, which considers the United States its top enemy. The interim Iraqi government elected this year is dominated by Shi’ites, including leaders like Jaafari, who have longtime ties to the Iranian theocracy. Full Story